High school holds 32nd annual commencement
By:Beth Kressel
At 6 p.m. June 19, Hillsborough High School held its 32nd graduation ceremony on the high school’s David A. Noonan Field as 446 individuals received their diplomas before an audience that nearly filled the bleachers to capacity.
Student speakers including Valedictorian Mohan Anand, Salutatorian Brian Coyne and senior class President Lindsay Sanwald, addressed the audience about how to succeed after high school.
"Do not spend the rest of your life before a computer," said Ms. Sanwald. "Get involved."
Mr. Anand told his classmates that over the next few weeks, friends and family would offer "their own two cents" about the road ahead.
"Not I or anyone else can travel that road for you," he said, quoting Walt Whitman. "You must travel it yourself."
The salutatorian spoke on a similar theme, noting that advice on how to succeed can take the form of roadside advertising or inspirational books.
"People want to believe that someone can tell them how to succeed," said Mr. Coyne. "The rest of us have to write our own formula for success. Never let anyone choose your path."
Individuality is a particular concern for this class, one of the largest to graduate from HHS, at a time of rapid population growth where sheer numbers the Class of 2006 is estimated at 637 often overwhelm.
In order for events to run smoothly, administrators and teachers stress group cooperation. The size of the student body has affected everything from issuing parking permits (there aren’t enough permits for every senior who wants one), to organizing the school building into "houses," to this year’s "Strength in Numbers" yearbook theme.
The graduation ceremony was a testament, both to the size of the student body and to the efficiency and cooperation of its members. Ed McNeil, director of the guidance department, noted that it took 15 minutes for the graduates to march in. But aside from a few colorful beach balls, the ceremony proceeded without a hitch.
"All last night and today, all we’ve been hearing from administrators, from parents and from other teachers, was about how great the student speeches and student behavior were at graduation," he said.